Glossary

The terminology of electrical drives

Automation with electrical drives requires specialist knowledge and has a language all of its own.
Festo publish a 200 page dictionary of terminology which is available to all customers upon
request.

Here we have taken a look at a few of the of the most commonly used terms.

For more information on electrical drive technology or a copy of the dictionary contact:
Mr Nigel Dawson
Product Manager
Festo Ltd

Email: nigel_dawson@festo.com
Phone: 01252 775057
www.festo.com/gb/edrives
Glossary
The terminology of electrical drives
Absolute measuring system
With an absolute measuring system, there is
always a fixed reference point and the position
of the axis is measured relative to this. This is
like a ruler, with which you know where the
zero point is and can then read off, for
example, 25.4 millimeters. Cf. “Incremental
measuring system”.
Absolute positioning
Absolute positioning always uses a zero point
as a fixed reference point and positioning is
carried out relative to this, i.e. you travel from
position 80 mm to position 95 mm. Cf.
“Incremental positioning “.
AC
Abbreviation for “alternating current”.
Indicates the sinusoidal voltage which is
available through power sockets all over the
world to power electrical devices.
Brushless and brush-type motors
Electric motors develop power through the
attraction of two magnetic fields. One of these
magnetic fields is able to rotate, which means
that when this magnetic field is activated, the
motor turns. The greatest power is obtained
from an electric motor if the two magnetic
fields act on each other at right angles. In order
to achieve this, one magnetic field must be
switched appropriately. This is done with
carbon brushes in the case of brush-type
motors and via the motor electronics in the
case of brushless motors.
Closed-loop control
Closed-loop control means that a controlled
variable is measured and an electronic
controller reacts as appropriate to this
measurement. A closed-loop controller
automatically detects external influences and
can react in such a way as to eliminate errors.
Strictly speaking, closed-loop control is when
the controlled variable is measured directly, as
is the case, for example, with a displacement
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encoder on the carriage of a linear axis. We use
the term “semi-closed-loop control” for cases
where there is an additional mechanism
between the measuring system and the
controlled variable, for example in the case of a
toothed-belt axis with a servo motor, where the
measuring system is located on the motor and
the toothed belt is between this and the
carriage. The opposite of closed-loop control is
open-loop control, where there is no feedback
of the controlled variable.
Control circuit
The control circuit is normally used to provide a
power supply for electronic devices, such as
logic components, measuring systems,
switches and displays. The control circuit
should be routed separately from the load
circuit.
Controller
A controller or programmable logic controller
(PLC) is an electronic device which processes
all its inputs within a defined period and sets
its outputs accordingly.
DC
The abbreviation for “direct current”. This is
the type of current supplied by batteries.
Direct drive
A direct drive is a special design of motor
which can generate very high forces at low
speeds. This gives very high acceleration and
reduces cycle times. With a direct drive, the
load to be moved is mounted directly on the
motor without any transmission or other
mechanical components. This technology is
available in the form of rotary direct drives
(torque motors) and linear direct drives (linear
motors).
Electronic brake
An electronic brake function is produced by a
motor controller which switches a motor to act
like a generator and thus generate electricity
and convert the mechanical energy of rotary
motion into electrical energy. This energy
conversion process slows the motor down but
cannot be used to block the motor and stop it
completely.
Emergency-stop circuit
The purpose of an emergency-stop circuit is to
bring a machine into a safe state if a hazard is
detected. This generally means first braking all
motions to a standstill and then shutting off
the power supply. The motor controllers CMMS,
SFC and SEC has an input which can be used to
obtain the fastest possible braking. The power
supply is shut off within the customer’s
system.
Encoder
An encoder is an optical or magnetic measuring
system which outputs a certain number of
pulses after a defined motion. With electric
motors, the encoders used usually output 1000
to 4000 pulses per revolution.
Field bus
Field buses offer serial interfaces to provide
communication between the various types of
electronic devices within a system. They are
standardized with regard to technical data,
software and reaction time, thus allowing
electronic devices made by different
manufacturers to be combined in any desired
way. The field bus systems offered for motor
controllers are CAN, Profibus, and DeviceNet.
Frequency converter
A frequency converter is an electronic device
which is used to provide an adjustment facility
for the speed of a three-phase motor. With this
device, speed can be controlled but it is not
possible to approach positions. This requires
the addition of a master controller and a
measuring system.
Holding brake
The brakes used in handling systems are
Glossary
The terminology of electrical drives
usually holding brakes, i.e. they can hold an
axis at a standstill. It is usually possible for a
holding brake to bring a motion axis to a
standstill a number of times in the case of a
power supply failure.
Incremental measuring system
With an incremental measuring system, there is
no fixed zero point. It is first necessary to
execute a reference travel motion to define a
zero point before it is possible to approach an
absolute position. Cf. “Absolute measuring
system”.
Incremental positioning
With incremental positioning, travel is relative
to the current position, e.g. you specify that an
axis should travel on a further 10 mm. Cf.
“Absolute positioning”.
Load circuit
A load circuit is used to provide large currents
for motors. These are fed to the power stages
of the electronic controllers, which then supply
the motors. In many cases, only the load circuit
is switched off in the case of an emergency
stop, leaving the control circuit switched on. In
this way, the position of an axis is known at all
times. This can be done with the motor
controllers CMMS, SFC and SEC.
Linear motor
See “Direct drive”.
Motor controller
A motor controller is a frequency converter
fitted with an additional controller. This allows
a selective approach to various positions. We
offer the motor controllers CMMS, SFC and
SEC.
Open-loop control
We speak of open-loop control when an
electronic controller feeds a signal to a motor
and does not receive a feedback signal to say
whether the position in question has been
reached. All stepper motors without encoders Stepper motor
operate in this way, which offers an adequate A stepper motor is a specially designed motor
degree of safety as long as the peak torque of which advances in individual steps. Due to this
motor is not reached. stepwise advance, operation is relatively loud,
but the motor does not vibrate when at a
PNP and NPN logic standstill. Normal stepper motors are not fitted
In Europe, logic inputs and outputs are wired with measuring systems. The motor is open-
using PNP logic, i.e. switching is from + via the loop-controlled and not closed-loopcontrolled,
load to –. With NPN logic, switching is from – with the result that it is relatively inaccurate.
via the load to +. The reason for this is partly
historical but also safety-related. With NPN Three-phase current
logic, there is a large number of terminals Three-phase current is a special form of
connected directly to the + conductor. If there alternating current which is transmitted via
is a short circuit from one of these terminals to three conductors plus a neutral conductor
a housing or –, no output will then work. If the (return conductor). It is used to drive
same thing happens with PNP logic, the output particularly powerful electric motors and
transistor concerned will be destroyed but all machines.
the other inputs and outputs will continue to
work. Torque motor
See “Direct drive”. We should not use this
Real-time capability term, since it is also sued for the main drives of
Real-time capability indicates that the reaction machines. For our applications, the term
times of an electronic device or field bus lie “rotary direct drive” is more suitable.
within a certain period. In order to state this
capability clearly, it is necessary to know the
required reaction time. A modern controller
processes all its inputs and outputs within 10
to 20 ms and thus has a reaction time within
this period.
Resolver
A resolver is an inductive measuring system. Its
functional principle is like that of a generator,
i.e. a sinusoidal voltage is generated with a
frequency which is directly dependent on the
speed. The resolver electronics can use this
frequency to determine the speed, acceleration
and position.
Servo motor
“Servo” indicates closed-loop control. A servo
motor has a built-in measuring system, so that
the motor position is known accurately at all
times. This allows external forces to be
detected and compensated for and makes it
possible to achieve very high accuracy.
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